Walking stepladder



- Sept. 4, 1923. 1467,245

C. ANLAUF WALKI NG STEPL-ADDER Filed March 26 1923 Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

GARL ANLAUF, OF PIPIES'IIONE, MINNESOTA.

WALKING S'IE1LADDER.

Application fi.led March 26, 1.923. Se1ia1 N0. 627,726.

ladders; und I do declare the following 130 be a full, dem, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same.

My invention has f0r its object to provide a step ladder adaptecl to be straddled by the operator und const-ructed in such a manner that by shifting his weight und properly manipulating his legs, he can cause the ladde1 130 welk in numerous directions, without dismounting. Thus, the ladder is extremely advantageous when sizing, painting o1 otherwise treating Walls and ceilings.

- It is a. further object of the invention to provide, in a ladder of the character sei; forth, a novel form of hinge for connecting the upwardly converging sections 0f the ladder und a new arrangement of stops which limit the outward movement of these ladder sections und prevent them from closin,q into parallel relation.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder constructed in accordance With my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the manner in which the ladder may be made to' welk.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end of the ladder showing more particularly the construction of the hinge.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the upper end illustrating more particularly the stop means which limit the opening and closinq movement of the two ladder sections.

In the drawing above briefiy described, the numerals 1 designate two ladder seetions which cqnverge upwardly and are hinged together at their upper ends. Each of these sections comprises a pair of stiles 2 connected at suitable intervals by steps 01' rungs 8. The operator straddles the upper ends of the two sections 1 and stands upon one 0f the steps 3 of one section With one foot, while his other foot rests upon the corresponding step 0f the othei secon, thus eq'ually dis tributing his weight upon the two ladder sections.-

Assuming that the ladder Stands in the positio:n shown in Fig. 1 and it is desired to move it sidewatys without dismouncing, ehe operator W1ll shift bis weight onto one of the ladder seccions 1 es indicated in Fig. 2 and may use the leg adjacent the other secshewn in dotted lines in" this view. Then, by shlft ing his weight onto the section which has Just 'been moved, and pulling inwardly with bis other leg, the section which was previously stationary is moved. 'By repeattion, for swinging the latter outwardly as ing these operations, the ladder may be moved to any desired extent. I may further explain a1: this point that the upper ends of the two sections are rather loosely hii1ged together which permits them to be so manipulated as to cause the ladder to welk in a direction parallel with the hinge axis. By providing a ladder which may be moved in these manners a1; Will, it is obvious that it will be very advantageous for, treating ceilings and Walls, fo1 instance for sizing 01 painting them.

I have shown two hinges for connecting the upper ende of the ladder sections 1 anal as they are both 0f the Same construction, only one Will be described; A inetal bar 5 is vertically secured t0 the stile 2 of one of ehe ladder sections 1 und is-provided with an outwardly offset upper end 6 having an opening 7. Another vertical bar 8 is secured t0 the adjacent stile 2 0f the other ladder seccion 1 and has its upper end re cluced and bent to forma horizontal loop o1 eye 9 which is loosely interlooped with the opening 7. This provides a rather loose hinge connection which permits easy opera tion of the ladder as above explained. Above the hinge line, the stiles 2 9re 0bliquely cut as indioated at 10 to provide Coacting-stops limiting ehe outward movement 0f ehe ladder sections 1 while below the hinge line, said stiles are obliquely cut at a difl'erent angle as indicated ab 11, thereby providing additional -stops Wl110l1 prevent in every way desirable. As excellent results have been obtained ir0m the details disclosed, these details are preferably followefl, but witain the scope 0f the invention a 's claimed, numerous n1inor changes may be made.

I c1aim:

1. A Walking step ladde1 adaptecl to be stmddled by the operator, said ladder comptising a pair 0'E sections, euch of which includes a pdir of stiles with steps extending therebetween, hinges connecting said stiles together at points spaced below their upper ends, the inner edges 0f the latter being obliquely cutnbove the hinges to l'nnio the m0vement 0'f said sections away fr0m auch othe1 und also being obliquely cut be- 10W the piv0t point 0f the hinges 0n a difle1= ent angle t0 1imit the movement of said sections toward each other.

2, A ladder of the type spec-ified comprisa pai1 of single ladder sections conve1gtoward euch other attheir uppr ends,

and hinges connecting s2gi d s ec tions tggether z xt a point spaced belovf Sid upp;e1y ends, ech 0f saidhinges COhsist-ifig of E1 meta1 baii secured vertically t0 0ne Stile and having 2111 outwaidly offsbt upper end formed with an op ening, and a second bar secured vertically to the adjacent sti1e und having its upper end re luced and bent t0 form a hori- Zontal eye loosely interlooped with said open1ng.

3. A structure as specified in claim l; e z;ch 01 said hinges Consisting of a metal br se cured vertically t0 one stile and hin in g an ou.twardly OfiS t uppe1 e)ncl forihed With an opening, and a second bzpr secured verticeilly to the adjacent sti1e and having its upper end feduced and bent t0 form a horizontal eye loos ely interlooped with said opei1ing.

111 testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed 1ny signapure.

CARL ANLAUF. 

